(19)

(11)

EP 3 973 491 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 30.03.2022 Bulletin 2022/13 (21) Application number: 20729208.7 (22) Date of filing: 21.05.2020

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  G06Q 20/36(2012.01) H04L 9/32(2006.01) G06Q 20/38(2012.01) (52) Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC): G06Q 20/36; G06Q 20/389; H04L 9/3239; H04L 2209/38; H04L 63/00; H04L 9/0844; H04L 2209/56; G06Q 2220/00; G06Q 20/386; H04L 63/0807 (86) International application number: PCT/IB2020/054837 (87) International publication number: WO 2020/234824 (26.11.2020 Gazette 2020/48)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR Designated Extension States: BA ME Designated Validation States: KH MA MD TN (30) Priority: 21.05.2019 GB 201907180 19.02.2020 GB 202002285 (71) Applicant: Nchain Holdings Limited St. John's (AG)	(72) Inventors: MEE, Andrew James Cardiff CF10 2HH (GB) COUGHLAN, Steven Patrick Cardiff CF10 2HH (GB) (74) Representative: Fraser, Karen  Murgitroyd & Company Cardiff Churchill House Churchill Way Cardiff CF10 2HH Cardiff CF10 2HH (GB)